Travel and Friendships

Traveling solo is something I’d recommend to everyone on this planet, not only is it a relaxing activity, it gives you peace of mind and allows you to reconnect with yourself and nature. In our day to day lives, we have so many worries that we lose track of who we are. Though we have friends who support us, there is also a bit of judgment, boundaries that we construct ourselves, expectations and backbiting in the mix which complicates things. In that situation, we need to get away from it all, and take a journey somewhere in the world and explore something new.

One of the things that keep people from enjoying their traveling experience, is the fear of going on alone. The fear is understandable but takes heart as your journey will not stay that way, as you’ll meet someone who will be your companion on the way. You will see new things, you will explore new places and most importantly you will meet new people and some of them will join you on your journey. They could just be your drinking partner for the night, the girl who’s celebrating her graduation with her friends on the trip, or the band from Europe touring the country; you’ll be sharing a friendship with them and this will be different than your other friendships, why? Because they don’t know you at all, and you can be yourself, because you know that they might leave the next day so you won’t hide behind masks and you’ll simply be yourself. They see you, the real you and they accept you for it. With the friends you make on your travels, there are no boundaries of race, no boundaries of nationalities, you’re on a journey to explore and have a good time. There is no judgment, no back biting, or misplaced expectation, no problems weighing you down and no baggage to hide; you’re just strangers together looking to have fun and create travel memories. Because of that reason, you will have the best time of your life, but why will it happen?

Because you deep down know that there are chances that you may never see this person ever again in your life, so you’re not afraid to be yourself, you’re not afraid to do those things that you would otherwise think to be ‘stupid’, you’re just you and that freedom will make you have a good time. During the course of your adventures you will become great friends, and then one day they will be gone and you will be alone. Then you will know and understand the worst part about traveling, losing that friend that never asked anything of you, but gave you everything you could have hoped for in a companion on your journey. Questions will pop up in your mind, you will wonder where they are, what they are doing, how can you contact them and do they even want you to contact them? Will they want to talk to you?

These broken bonds are by far the worst thing about traveling because the people you meet on these trips and travels; you don’t know them (at least not as well as your friends back home), they’re strangers and you join together in a quest to explore. They become a part of the whole journey as the location you’re exploring, the things and the sights you’re seeing and the experience you’re having. They become a part of the whole traveling experience. Then you part ways to continue your adventure as they do theirs. The thing about parting ways is, that when this journey started you knew that this would end this way, with both parties going their separate ways. But what these parties don’t anticipate is the closeness and friendship that will develop over the course of their trips. Inevitably, either you will leave them and go on with your trip, or they will split paths from you on your journey.

Since this is something you cannot avoid, you will ultimately accept it, and finish your trip and head on home. You will try to reconnect with the friends you left behind, You will find them on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media and you’ll try to reconnect wit them. But take heart knowing that it happened, rest easy that it’s something no one will ever take from you; it’s between you, your friends that you made, and the road you were on.

Meeting new people and becoming friends with someone is inevitable, no matter how bad you are at it and how bad your luck is, you will make at least one friend and you will have a good time. Know this, that walking away is also a part of the journey, it teaches you that nothing in this life is supposed to stay that way and things change. Enjoy the time you spend together, have fun, and when the time comes, learn to let go. Because it is something that must be done, you have to let them go, even if it is the worst thing about traveling.

This is so true. My first time really traveling alone was during a study abroad program in Costa Rica years ago. Like you said, it’s a way to be free from what your friends and family expect and to experience travel in a completely different way.

What a nice post, Kevin. Some of my closest friends are those whom I met while traveling (albeit traveling/working in the same place for a long period of time), but it is the memory of a particular place with that person that is so nice. Without the interaction of others, we would learn so much less in a new place. Our stories would be a bit bland, and we would feel less connection to many experiences if we were traveling completely soon. Good reflection, thanks for sharing!

Thank you, i agree sometimes a memory in a particular place with a person is what makes great memories, and sometimes would be a bit bland without them. I always love adding about a person i met in a particular place.

I’m a solo traveler, so this surely resonated with me, especially this: “Because they don’t know you at all, and you can be yourself, because you know that they might leave the next day so you won’t hide behind masks and you’ll simply be yourself.” Indeed! Safe travels.

I was in Thailand at a beach bar and a girl just walked up to us and asked “can I hang out with you guys, you seem cool”. I totally respected that so much and we all ended up hanging out for the next 3 days. She was flipping awesome too!

Hi Kevins,
Thanks a lot for sharing this. It is very interested. I really loved it. I am a solo traveler from 24 years old, but recently I have made a decision to go travelling with someone. Can I join with you? I know that solo travel is very interested, but not very enjoyable because loneliness surrounded. I think you would know that. Whatever, I think your next travel will be interested. Best of luck!

I meet some great people while traveling solo around Ireland years ago. That was before social media, so I’m not sure what they are up to, but I did enjoy spending time and seeing the sights with them.

I’d definitely agree on the people you meet being a big part of the experience – no matter if they’re locals or fellow travelers. 🙂 Even the people you don’t interact with create the unique atmosphere of a certain place.
On the other hand, there are also people who don’t socialize much and, even though they’re traveling solo, they don’t feel like making many friends on the way – and I think that’s an equally good approach too, since we all do it for different reasons. 🙂
Hope you’ll have a great time traveling around and that you’ll meet even more friends on the way! 🙂